Implement attaching means



Aug. 15, 1961 T. A. JACKSON 2,996,129

IMPLEMENT ATTACHING MEANS Original Filed Aug. 29, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1I N V EN TOR.

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Aug. 15, 1961 T. A. JACKSON 2,996,129

IMPLEMENT ATTACHING MEANS Original Filed Aug. 29, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3United States Fatent 2,996,129 lMPLEMENT ATTACHING MEANS Truman A.Jackson, Beaver Dam, Ky.

Original application Aug. 29, 1951, Ser. No. 244,207, now Patent No.2,782,704, dated Feb. 26, '1957. Divided and this application Feb. 14,1957, Ser. No. 640,163

4 Claims. (Cl. 172-460) This invention relates to improvements in farmimplements and, specifically, to an arrangement of structural elementswhich includes attachments on the tractor, the implement to be coupledwith the tractor, and a coupling device operatively connected betweenthe tractor and the implements or implement, and an object thereof is togenerally improve the construction and operation of devices of thisclass. This application is a division of the application of Truman A.Jackson, Serial No. 244,207, filed August 29, 1951, for ImplementAttaching Means for Tractors, and allowed July 20, 1956, now Patent No.2,782,704.

A further object of this invention is to couple and uncouple animplement with a tractor of substantially conventional description andto retain the implement attached to the tractor until such time that theimplement strikes an impediment, as a heavy rock, whereby the implementwill automatically become released so that there will be no damage tothe implement.

Another object of this invention is to so attach the implement by themedium of the improved attaching assembly that the implement may beraised and lowered in accordance with selected depths of cut to be takenin the soil and retained in the selected raised and lowered condition.

A further object of this invention is to raise the implement through themedium of the usual lift arm or arms of the tractor so that it is liftedto the inoperative condition for various purposes, as transporting theimplement from one locality to another.

A further object of this invention is to render the coupling anduncoupling of an implement with a tractor easy, rapid and effective.

More specifically the invention relates to the mount ing of a plow on atractor, and a further object is to provide a plow which is-mounted on atractor so as to be carried thereby from place to place, lowered intothe ground when desired and pulled by the tractor when so lowered, andwhich, nevertheless, is automatically released from the tractor if itencounters an obstruction.

Further objects are to provide a plow of the above character which isfree to float and find its own depth; such a plow in which the depth itwill seek, is readily and quickly adjustable; which will plowefficiently in a curved path as in contour farming; and which willrelease from the tractor if inadvertently turned in too sharp a curve.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingspecification and annexed drawings in which a satisfactory embodiment isshown but it is to be understood that the invention is not intended tobe taken as limited to the exact construction illustrated, or in fact inany manner except as herein set forth.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of an implement embodying the invention andcoupled with a fragmentary part of a tractor.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG.1, and in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view similar to that shown in FIG. 2, theimplement, however, being uncoupled from the tractor.

Patented Aug. 15, 1961 FIGURE 4 is a rear view of the device shown inFIG. 1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a part of thetractor and some of the elements which attach to the tractor.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the tractor and elementsattached thereto in addition to those shown in FIG. 5.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of FIG. 6.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in a plow, which is mounted ona tractor 10 for carrying it and also for propelling it when inoperation, the implement being generally designated as 12. The tractorincludes the usual rear axle housing 14 and a lift arm comprising a pairof members 16 and 18 having upstanding bracketlike members 19 and 20respectively, pivotally connected to actuating rods 21 and 22, the liftarm being generally designated as 24. A transverse attaching bracket 26is attached to depending cars 28 and 30 at the front of axle portion 14of the tractor as by bolt and nut assemblies 3232, while a secondbracket, guide or quadrant 34 is attached at the rear of axle housing 14by means of bolts 3535. Hence, brackets 26 and 34 are spaced from eachother in the present instance to the extent of the width of the axlehousing. A cross shaft 38 is fixed to bracket 26 by means of clamps 39.Shaft 38 is for the purpose of supporting and guiding a pair of forkedarms, levers or plow influencing means generally designated as 44 and 46provided respectively with bearing portions 48 and 50 journaled on shaft38 and restrained against axial movement thereon by collars 54 55 and5657, having set screws 58-59-60 and 61 or otherwise fixed axially ofshaft 38 in well-known manner. Arms 46 and 44 are thus free to swing upand down but not to shift axially of shaft 38, in other words laterallyof the tractor.

As seen in FIG. 3, an upwardly extending lever 60 is pivoted on pin-61to a clamp 62 fastened to axle housing 14 by means of clamping bolts63-63, said lever being maintained in adjusted position by a quadrantand latch arrangement of well-known form generally desig nated as 64 andhaving a rearwardly extending bifurcated arm 65 having trunnionedtherein an apertured collar 66. An operating rod 67 extends throughcollar 66 and has an upper spring 68 and a lower spring 70 arrangedconcentrically thereon and engaging respectively above and below collar66, a collar 72 being adjustably fixed on rod 67 above spring 68 and apreferably similar collar 74 being fixed to rod 67 below spring 70. Anadjustable upper limit collar 76, in the present instance in the form ofa nut is fixed on the upper end of rod 67 to prevent inadvertent removalof collar 72, the whole constituting adjusting mechanism for theinfluencing means 44 and 46.

It will now be apparent that adjustment of lever 60 will causeup-and-down adjustment of rod 67, collars 72 and 74 being adjusted toplace springs 68 and 70 under predetermined compression so that rod 67is floatingly supported or urged up or down in accordance with theadjustment of lever 60* and arm 65.

The lower end of rod 67 is pivoted, as by a pin, bolt or the like 78, toa portion of forked arm 44 so that the latter partakes of such floatingmovement and is urged up or down at will by suitable adjustment of lever60*. Substantially identical mechanism including a lever 79 isassociated with arm 46 and operates in a similar manner.

A structural member or short drawbar 80 is secured by a bolt 81 passingin the present instance through member 80 and a bail or anchorage '82secured on bracket 26 as by cap screws or the like 83. Member 80 in thepresent instance is bifurcated and has a link portion 84 pi-votallysecured thereto as by a bolt 85 for up-and-downswinging movement andnormally resting on above mentioned guide 34. Link 84 has a cut-awayportion 86 (FIG. for engagement with a cross bar to be later describedand also a keeper or overload releasing coupling device generallydesignated as 87. Keeper 87 is generally in the form of a vertical lever88 pivoted on a pin 89 carried on link portion 84 and cut away at 90 tocooperate with above-mentioned cut-away portion 86 to form a pocket toretain the above-mentioned cross bar. Lever portion 88 has an upwardlybifurcated arm 91 extending above pivot 89 and connected by a pivot orpin 92 with a toggle element generally designated as 93. Element 93 hasa tongue portion 94 pivoted on a pin 95 to a bell crank generallydesignated as 96 and having a leg 97 lying alongside of above-mentionedlink element 84 and pivoted thereto on a pin 98. Bell crank 96 also hasan upstanding leg 99 normally pressed against an upstanding bifurcatedportion 100 of above-mentioned toggle portion 93. A substantiallyidentical bell crank 101 lies alongside of link portion 84 on theopposite side thereof from hell crank 96 and is connected therewith byabove-mentioned pins 95 and 98, and by a pin, rivet or the like 102 sothat the two act as a single unit and constitute in connection withelement 93, a toggle arrangement. It is to be noted that pin 95, in thepresent instance is upwardly displaced from the common plane of pins 92and 98 so that compressive stress in element 93 and leg 97 will giverise to a tendency toward upward movement in pin 95, in other words tobreak the toggle. Pin 95 is prevented from ever reaching a position inline with pins 92 and 98 by contact of leg 99 with portion 100, theselatter being so proportioned as to maintain a slight upward displacementof pin 95 from alignment with pins 92 and 98.

The parts are normally maintained in this position by means of a spring103 compressed between a nut 104 on a rod 105 passing betweenabove-mentioned bell cranks 96 and 101, and leg 99 of bell crank 96 andthe corresponding leg of bell crank 101. Rod 105 has an eye or loopportion 106 journaled on a pin 107 within bifurcated portion 100 oftoggle element 93. It will now be apparent that the pressure of spring103 not only will press leg 99 generally to the right as seen in FIG. 5,but also, through rod 105, and pin 107, will pull portion 100 to theleft, so that leg 99 and portion 100 are urged tightly, althoughyieldably together.

It will now be apparent that any tendency toward clockwise rotation ofkeeper 87, from causes to be presently explained, will cause compressivestress in the toggle comprisng elements 93 and 97 together with an upward tendency in pin 95 and separation of portions 99 and 100. Thislatter tendency is resisted by spring 103, and, since the normalposition of pin 95 is nearly (but not quite) in line with pins 92 and98, the upward force is only a small fraction of whatever turning forceis exerted on keeper 87. However, it will also be apparent thatsuificient force could be exerted on keeper 87 that the upward tendencyand consequent tendency to separate, of portions 99 and 100, would besufficient to further compress spring 103, and that even slight movementwould so increase the angle between pins 92, 95 and 98 as to entirelychange the resistance characteristics of the arrangement so that furtherdisplacement would be effected even with a reduced force. Thischaracteristic is utilized to release the implement, as will be furtherexplained, without damage, in the event it encounters an obstructionwhich is immovable, or so resistant as to be likely to damage theequipment.

Link 84 and its attached parts is swingable up-anddown about pin 85 forengagement with and disengagement from the above-mentioned cross bar,and a rope 108 is secured to an ear 109 on keeper 87 and by which theassemblage may be lifted at any time by the tractor operator, the upperend of the rope being fastened within convenient reach, for example on ahook 110 carried by the tractor seat 120.

In order to protect the power take-off shaft 122 and to protect otherelements such as an operators clothing from striking the shaft andpossibly becoming entangled therewith, a plate 124 is secured to therear of the power take-off housing of the tractor and has a sleeve 126secured thereto which is arranged in enclosing relation with shaft 122.Slots 128 are provided in plate 124 in order to accommodate boltspassing through ears 131 secured to sleeve 126.

Referring now to implement 12, this is shown as a plow and theexpedients so far described and to be described are particularly adaptedto the propelling, controlling, and carrying in transport position onthe tractor, of such a plow, while at the same time providing for therelease thereof from the tractor if the plow encounters an obstruction.The invention however, of course contemplates the use of any analogousor other implement which would be adaptable to or benefit from theseexpedients. The implement has a frame generally designated as 134comprising for the most part a beam 135 carrying a plow bottom 136 and abeam 137 carrying a plow bottom 138, these plow bottoms being of anysuitable or usual form, and a furrow or tail wheel 139 of suitable orwell-known type secured to beam 137 by means of an adjustable bracket140. Frame 134 also includes a cross brace 141 and a diagonal brace 142,both suitably fixed between beams 135 and 137 so as to determine andmaintain predetermined spacing between them. A clamping bracket 14-3fixed to beam 135 carries a standard 144 having a yoke 145 for a coulter146 which operates in well-known manner for well-known purposes. Asimilar clamping bracket 147 carries a standard 148 for a substantiallyidentical coulter 149, these coulters serving respectively plow bottoms136 and 138. The assemblage just dcscribed constitutes a form oftwo-bottom one-way plow.

Returning to the lifting mechanism 24, this is connected to the plow byflexible means, an upstanding bracket 150 having a pivot pin 151, whichpasses through an car 152 fixed to a tubular housing 153 having aninturned shoulder 154, and through which is slidable a rod 155 providedwith a centering shoulder 156, a spring 157 surrounding rod 155 withinhousing 153 and bearing against shoulders 154 and 156. It will beapparent that housing 153 may be swung about pivot 151 and that whenswung so that rod 155 is upwardly disposed, an upward pull on rod 155will cause lifting of plow frame 134, the action being cushioned by moreor less compression of spring 157. A turnbuckle 158 is secured to rod155, preferably adjustable therealong and secured by a lock-nut 159while an eye-bolt or the like 160 is threaded into turnbuckle 158 andconnects with a chain 161. The effective length of chain 161 is therebyeasily regulated. A keeper 162 is secured to the outer end of chain 161and is adapted to be removably disposed in a seat or saddle-like member163 consisting of a pair of spaced plates secured to the outer end ofabove-mentioned lift arm 24 and which have cam surfaces 164 constitutinga keeper-receiving recess of such shape that keeper 162 can be lodged onthe surfaces 164, chain 161 depending therefrom between said spacedplates as clearly apparent in FIGS. 1, and 2. Surfaces 164 are of suchshape as to retain keeper 162 in normal operation of the device andduring upward swinging of arm 24 so that such movement takes up theslack in chain 161 and lifts plow frame 134 through rod 155 and spring157 hereinbefore described. The recess formed by cam surfaces 164,however, is shallow enough so that in the event that the plow isreleased from the tractor, as in case of hitting an obstruction, keeper162 upon the resulting rearward angling of chain 161 will slip out ofthe recess, off of cam surfaces 164, and thus release this part of theplow completely from the tractor.

The implement assembly may be substantially balanced about pin 151 sothat it will remain approximately level when lifted, but if there is anytendency for it o tilt in any direction when lifted this is resisted orovercome by arms 44 and 46, as will appear.

Side plates 165 and 166 are attached as by bolts 167--167, respectivelyto beams 137 and 135 substantially at the forward ends thereof,depending therefrom and carrying outwardly extending studs or pins 172and 174 respectively, said studs being provided with heads 176-176 toprevent excessive sideward displacement of the connected parts. Sideplates 165 and 166 serve to connect beams 135 and 137 with a substantialspacing or cross bar 179 secured to plates 165 and 166 and havingthereon collars 183 and 185, spaced apart along cross bar 179 anddefining therebetween a hitch-engaging region 187. This region isadapted to be releasably engaged in the recess formed by the notch 90and recess 86 in order to releasably couple the implement 12 to thetractor. The plow is propelled or drawn by engagement of keeper 87 withregion 187 of cross bar 179, plates 165 and 166 being rugged enough totransmit the very considerable forces involved to beams 135 and 137, theplow then working in many respects in a manner similar to plows ofwell-known construction, coulters 146 and 149 cutting a path for bottoms136 and 138 which travel partially beneath the surface and turn thesoil, the landside pressure being largely taken by the furrow wheel 139traveling in the last furrow. As is well-known, plows of this generalnature are sensitive to, and effectively regulated by adjustment of thehitch point, and in the present instance the landing adjustment isaccomplished in this manner.

Collars 183 and 185 are shiftable along cross bar 179 to change thelocation of region 187, and have rearwardly extending guiding tongues188 and 190 respectively between which portion 83 of coupling device 87is retained when in operative position. Collar 183 is split forwardly ofcross bar 179 and has flanges 192-192 clamped together by a fasteningmeans or bolt 194, collar 185 having a similar flange 196 (broken awayin FIG. 6), and by means of which flanges, collars 183 and 185 may beclamped in position on bar 179.

Region 187 is adjusted to receive keeper 88 between guiding tongues 188and 190 with only sufficient clearance for free oscillating anddisengaging movement of keeper 88. Furthermore, both collars 183 and 185may be set to the left or right to define a new position for region 187,or in other words, for the point of attachment of keeper 88 to plow 12.Shifting this point to the right will cause the plow to travel more tothe left, while shifting it to the left will cause the plow to travelmore to the right, as will be understood by those skilled in the art,and thus cause the plow to cut a wider, or a narrower slice, as the casemay be, or to take more or less land,

Plowing depth, in the plows of known construction is commonly determinedin general by the height of the hitch points, the plow traveling at adepth where the upward component of the draft pull exactly balances theweight and suck (or tendency to go deeper) of the plow. A relativelylong drawbar or beam is commonly used and its hitch point on the tractoris raised or lowered by suitable mechanism whereupon the plow, whenrunning, promptly finds a depth where the above described balance offorces is in effect. If anything disturbs this depth the plow willimmediately restore it as soon as the disturbance is passed. Such longdrawbars are inconvenient to accommodate on the tractor and would makedifiicult or impossible the quick reattachment of a plow which hadbroken away when hitting an obstruction. In the present arrangement, thedraw bar is very short, being represented by the members 80 and 84 andwould not operate with the plow in the manner just explained. However,by virtue of the arms 44 and 46, it is not necessary or desirable thatthe draw bar be long or that it have provision for height adjustment.Arms 44 and 46, with their rearwardly bifurcated or slotted ends 198 and200, respectively, engaging studs or pins 174 and 172, and

being adjustably and yieldingly fixed in relation to the tractor arereadily adjusted to influence the plow by pressing upwardly ordownwardly thereon to thereby introduce a component of force which,combined with whatever upward or downward components may already exist,will cause the plow to find and maintain the desired depth of operation.Furthermore, if the plow tends to tilt to one side or the other, upwardor downward pressure is readily applied to one or the other side of theplow by suitable adjustment of arms 44 and 46 by means of levers 60 and79 as hereinbe-fore explained.

It being normal for the tractor to run with one traction wheel in thelast previously formed furrow, it is usually necessary to adjust theright hand arm 44 to a higher position in relation to the tractor thanleft hand arm 46 so that as the tractor tilts the plow will run level.It is also noteworthy that the degree of tilting will be dififerent foreach different plowing depth, after the outfit has made at least oneround of the field being plowed, and that any necessary adjustment,either up or down or side to side is made with the greatest of ease bymeans of arms 44 and 46 controlled by levers 60 and 79. Thus assuming apredetermined plowing depth and a predetermined tilt of the tractor, theplow running level, and that it is desired to plow at a greater depth,it is only necessary to adjust levels 60 and 79 backwardly the requireddistance, thus lowering the bifurcated portions 198 and 200 of arms 44and 46, the tractor running with one wheel in the old shallow furrow andthe relative tilt between the plow and tractor remaining the same. Thiscondition will continue for One circuit around the field or land, oruntil the tractor comes to the place where the furrow was deepened. Herethe tractor will assume a greater tilt and, in order to keep the plowrunning level lever 60 can be adjusted forwardly, thus raising thebifurcated portion 198 of arm 44 relatively to the tractor but in factrestoring it to the same level above the ground which it occupiedprevious to the encountering of the deeper furrow by the tractor. Theplow will then continue running level at the new depth, while thetractor will assume a greater tilt. Y

Sufficient freedom is provided within cutaway portions 86 and 90 aboutcross bar 179 so that such tilting movements are readily accommodated,the arrangement constituting in effect a universal connection betweenthe tractor and plow whereby the plow may move freely up and down andswing in any direction, subject to the control of arms 44 and 46.

Portion 84 may rise and fall about pivot 85 to provide for up and downmovement of cross bar 179 in response to the urging of arms 44 and 46,or because of relative movement of the plow and tractor caused by roughground. Also up and down movement of cross bar 179 is accommodated bysliding movement on the substantially vertical surface 202 of keeper 88.

The backward pull, or reaction of the plow against surface 202 causes aforward thrust against pivot 92 which, because of the slightmisalignment of pivots 92, 95 and 98, causes an upward resultant inpivot 95. This upward resultant is resisted by spring 103 acting ashereinbefore explained to hold arms 99 and 100 yieldingly together, theforce of the spring being substantially in excess of that necessary tohold the parts in position against any force developed by normal plowingoperations. However if the plow encounters an immovable obstruction theupward force in pivot 95 becomes large enough so that arms 99 and 100separate slightly, further compressing spring 103. This increases theangle defined by pivots 92, 95 and 98 to such an extent that furtherupward displacement of pivot 95 is effected without substantial furtherincrease in the force against surface 202, keeper 88 tilting rearwardlyabout pivot 89 until its position is such (dotted lines in FIG. 5) thatit rides over cross bar 179 which latter thus escapes from cut-awayportions 86 and 90 and relieves all the parts from excessive stress.Tractor 10, of course, keeps moving for a short time at least, arms 44and 46 slipping otf of studs 174 and 172 and cam surface 164 sliding outfrom under keeper 162. Thus plow 12 is automatically and completelyreleased from tractor 10 when it hits an obstruction, even though it isnormally carried on and propelled by the tractor.

When the tractor has been stopped, after such release it is merelynecessary to back the tractor into position, adjust levers 60 and 79 (ifnecessary) to assure alignment of bifurcated portions 198 and 200 withstuds 174 and 172 raise keeper 8S pivotally about pivot 85 by means ofrope 108 and continue to back until studs 174 and 172 enter bifurcatedportions 198 and 200. Keeper 88 is then lowered behind cross bar 179 byreleasing rope 108 and keeper 162 is readily manually placed on camsurfaces 164 whereupon the outfit is again ready for use.

It will ordinarily be necessary to back the plow slightly, arms 44 and46 pressing against studs 174 and 172, so as to free it from theobstruction. Power lift arm 24 is then actuated so as to pull on chain161 and raise plow 12 by means of pin 151, plow 12 being guided andstabilized by continued engagement of cross bar 179 with cut-awayportions 86 and 90 and by engagement of arms 44 and 46 with studs 174and 172. The tractor is then driven frwardly and power lift arm 24lowered whereupon bottoms 136 and 138 again enter the ground and levers60 and 79 are adjusted to restore the plow to the previous plowing depthand to level it. The first forward move ment of tractor causes keeper 88to be guided by tongues 188 and 190 into contact with region 187.

The operation of picking up plow 12 by means of power lift arm 24 andchain 161 is cushioned by spring 157 within housing 153, rod 155applying the lifting force to spring 157 and sliding within housing 153as the spring yields.

As a precaution if plow 12 is to be transported an appreciable distance,keeper 162 may be placed forwardly of saddle-like member 163 as seen indotted lines in FIG. 2, thereby providing against any possibility ofrelease of keeper 162 inadvertently, as under extreme rough ridingconditions.

It will be noted, that in plowing position as seen in FIG. 2, studs 174and 172 occupy an intermediate position along the length of bifurcatedportions 198 and 200 of arms 44 and 46. Thus it is practical for tractor10 to turn at a reasonable angle to plow 12 without either studencountering the closed end of either bifurcated portion. The outfit istherefore extremely adaptable to contour plowing in which the furrowsare plowed along easy curves so that they follow around the sides of thehills thus avoiding any upward or downward inclination. Difficulty hasheretofore been experienced in this kind of plowing when attempted withknown forms of mounted plows. Commonly when the tractor swings to theright, the plow swings to the left and takes too much land and viceversa. This difficulty is avoided by the present construction. Howeverif by reason of inexperience or other inadvertence, the tractor isturned so sharply as to result in danger of contact of any part of theplow with one of the traction wheels, one of the studs (174172)whichever is on the side which is endangered, will encounter the end ofits associated bifurcated portion and tend to swing the plow with thetractor. This is substantially impossible with the plow in the groundand results in a greatly increased pull on keeper 88. In fact the pullis so great that keeper 88 will release in the manner above described aswhen the plow hits an obstruction, the plow then being released from thetractor without danger or damage. As will be apparent, this action takesplace whether the tractor is turned excessively to the right or to theleft.

The length of chain 161 is readily adjusted by manipulation ofturnbuckle 158-in a manner which will be clear to one skilled in theart. Springs 68 and 70 may be adjusted to result in any desiredcharacteristics as regards response to lever 6t and the correspondingparts associated with lever 79 are similarly adjustable. If the plowtakes too much land collars 183 and 185 are readily loosened and shiftedslightly to the left along cross bar 179. On the other hand if it takestoo little, they are adjusted to the right, being clamped of course inall cases solidly in their new positions.

As will be apparent, plow 12 may be released from tractor 10 at any timeby merely resting it on the ground, pulling rope 103 and driving away,whereupon it will be completely released from the tractor in a manneridentical to that wherein it is released upon striking an obstructionand it will be noted that the parts remaining on the tractor are not aserious encumbrance and that the tractor may be readily used for otherpurposes without removing these attached parts. The plow can be just asreadily picked up by merely hacking into place, placing keeper 162 oncam surfaces 164 and dropping keeper 88 behind cross bar 179.

It is thought to be apparent that a structure has been provided whichwill amply accomplish the objects set forth in the beginning of thisdescription and what is claimed as new and desired to be secured byLetters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a tractor mounted plow the combination with a tractor and plow ofa pair of laterally spaced arms pivoted to the tractor for independentup-and-down movement and extending rearwardly therefrom, said arms beingsecured to laterally spaced points on the plow by longitudinallydirected pin and slot connections for pivotal and longitudinal freemovement between said arms and said plow but for dependent up-and-downmovement with said plow, a link connected between said tractor and saidplow for drawing said plow from said tractor, the link connection withthe plow constituting a universal connection providing free up-and-downmovement of said plow and swinging in any direction, and resilient meansconnected be tween each of said spaced arms and said tractor forexerting a yielding force on said arms in a vertical direction.

2. In a tractor mounted plow the combination with a tractor and plow ofa pair of laterally spaced arms pivoted to the tractor for independentup-and-down movement and extending rearwardly therefrom, said arms beingsecured to laterally spaced points on the plow by longitudinallydirected pin and slot connections for pivotal and longitudinal freemovement between said arms and said plow, but for dependent up-and-downmovement with said plow, a link connected between said tractor and saidplow for drawing said plow from said tractor, and the link connectionwith the plow constituting a universal connection providing freeup-and-down movement of said plow and swinging in any direction, meansconnected between each of said spaced arms and said tractor forselectively exerting a force on either of said arms in a verticaldirection.

3. In a tractor mounted implement the combination with a tractor and animplement of a universal draft connection between the tractor and plow,a pair of implement influencing means connected between the tractor andthe implement, spaced laterally relatively to the direction of traveland each other and connected to the implement at laterally spacedpoints, and resilient means connected between each of said influencingmeans and said tractor and conditioned to exert a yielding downwardforce on said influencing means, and each of said resilient means beingselectively conditionable to exert an upward force on said influencingmeans.

4. In a tractor mounted plow the combination with the tractor and plowof a universal connecting means between the tractor and plow for drawingthe plow from the tractor, a pair of plow influencing means, one on eachside of said connecting means, connected between the tractor and plow,spaced apart laterally relatively to the direction of travel andconnected to said plow at laterally spaced points, a resilient meansconnected respectively to each of said influencing means, a manuallyoperable adjusting device individual to and connected between each ofsaid resilient means and said tractor, each of said resilient meansbeing conditioned by its respective adjusting device to exert a yieldingdownward force on its respective influencing means, and each of saidadjusting devices being shiftable to condition its respective resilientmeans :to exent an upward force on its respective influencing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSMattingley May 25, 1920 Silver Dec. 13, 1938 Hand Mar. 14, 1944 OrelindJune 27, 1944 De Bairos Sept. 2-3, 1952 Hartsock et al Sept. 8, 1953Altgelt June 14, 1955 Jackson Feb. 26, 1957

